With her classy, refined brand of romantic soul, Anita Baker was one of the definitive quiet storm singers of the '80s. Gifted with a strong, supple alto, Baker was influenced not only by R&B, but jazz, gospel, and traditional pop, which gave her music a distinctly adult sophistication. Smooth and mellow, but hardly lifeless, it made her one of the most popular romantic singers of her time.
Baker was born January 26, 1958, in Toledo, OH, and raised in nearby Detroit, where she grew up listening to female jazz singers like Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and Ella Fitzgerald. At age 12, she began singing a gospel choir, and by age 16 she was performing with several local bands. In 1975, she successfully auditioned for Chapter 8, one of Detroit's most popular acts at the time; the group eventually signed with Ariola and released an album in 1979, but were immediately dropped when the label was acquired by Arista (which didn't care for Baker's vocals). Chastened, Baker worked low-paying jobs in Detroit and eventually found steady work as a receptionist at a law firm. In 1982, Otis Smith -- an executive who'd worked with Chapter 8 -- contacted Baker about recording for his new label Beverly Glen. Happy with her employment benefits and skittish over the experience with Arista, Baker was reluctant at first, but eventually flew out to the West Coast to record her debut album, The Songstress, in 1983. Though it didn't gain quite enough exposure to become a hit, it did help Baker build a strong fan base through word-of-mouth and she was signed by Elektra in 1985.
Working with producer Michael J. Powell (an old Chapter 8 cohort), Baker released her major-label debut Rapture in 1986. It was a platinum, Grammy winning smash, appealing to both urban and adult contemporary listeners and producing two all-time quiet storm classics in "Caught Up in the Rapture" and "Sweet Love." Baker toured the world in 1987 and her guest appearance on the Winans track "Ain't No Need to Worry" won a Grammy. Her equally stylish follow-up album, Giving You the Best That I Got, appeared in 1988, spawning more staples in the title track and "Just Because." "Giving You the Best That I Got" also won Baker two more Grammys, for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song. For her third Elektra album, Baker decided to handle a greater share of the songwriting, hence the title Compositions, which was released in 1990 and featured even stronger jazz inflections than Baker's previous work (not to mention all live instruments).
Following Compositions, Baker took a break from recording and touring; after having her first son in 1993, she returned to the studio to craft Rhythm of Love, which was released in 1994. In the years that followed, Baker was mostly silent, despite her fans' clamoring for a jazz album; instead, she raised her family and became embroiled in contract disputes with Elektra, which eventually led her to move to Atlantic. She began working on a new album in 2000, but had to start over from scratch due to defective recording equipment that made the original tracks unsalvageable. In 2004 it was announced that she had signed with Blue Note and still working on her new album. In the meantime, the Atlantic imprint Rhino released Night of Rapture: Live, a 1987 concert originally available on video. Baker finally returned to the studio in 2003 and issued My Everything, her first album in 10 years. Two years later she released her first holiday album, Christmas Fantasy.
I Apologize
Anita Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just the other night
We had a horrible fight
I admit that I
I was out of control
But I still love my man
With my body and soul
You say things you should not say
I never meant to treat my baby that way
I apologize (believe me, I do)
Oh, believe me I do
I apologize (honest and true)
Oh, honest and true
Because I know I was wrong (I was wrong)
So I sing you this song (I sing you this song)
And I'm tryin' to get through
To make it up to you, yeah
Operator, it was like a bad dream
Lord, you should have heard
The way he shouted and the way that I screamed
I regret it 'cause I was unfair
I took it all out on him
Just because he was there
When the road gets rough
You say things you should not say
I never meant to treat my daddy that way
I apologize (believe me, I do)
Oh, believe me I do
I apologize (honest and true)
Oh, honest and true
Because I know I was wrong (I was wrong)
So I sing you this song (I sing you this song)
And I'm gonna get through you
And make it up to you
I apologize, for I was unkind
And I wish that I could go back in time
Erase our goodbyes and rewrite my life
But come rain or come shine
I'm gonna do it right this time
I apologize (believe me, I do)
I, I, I, oh baby, I do (honest and true)
Because I know I was wrong (I was wrong)
So I sing you my, my, my song, yeah (I sing you this song)
I apologize (believe me, I do)
I apologize (honest and true)
Because I know I was wrong (I was wrong)
So I sing you this song (I sing you this song)
And I wanna get, I gotta get
I need to get through to you, yeah, yeah (believe me, I do)
Oh, listen, oh, baby (honest and true)
I'm talkin' to you right now
Oh, I'm talkin' to you (I was wrong)
Oh, I was wrong, baby (I sing you this song)
Listen to me right now
Singin' it to you right now, I was wrong
(Believe me I do)
(Honest and true)
(I was wrong, I sing you this song)
(Believe me I do)
(Honest and true)
(I was wrong, I sing you this song)
The song "I Apologize" by Anita Baker is a heartfelt ballad about a bad fight between two lovers. The singer is regretful of her actions and wants to apologize to her significant other. She pleads with the operator to connect to her lover and sings about how she knows she was wrong and how she would like to make up for her mistake.
Throughout the song, the singer takes full responsibility for her actions, admitting that she was out of control and took her anger out unfairly on her partner. She wishes she could go back in time and erase the terrible fight they had, but she promises to do better in the future.
"I Apologize" is a relatable song that highlights the importance of taking responsibility for our actions, especially when we hurt someone we care about. It's a reminder that no one is perfect, and that the road to reconciliation isn't always easy, but it's worth trying.
Line by Line Meaning
Operator
The singer is attempting to contact someone through a phone operator.
Get my baby on the line
The singer wants to talk to her partner on the phone and is asking the operator to connect her.
Just the other night
Recently, within the past few days.
We had a horrible fight
The artist and her partner had a very negative and intense argument.
I admit that I
The artist is acknowledging her part in the fight that occurred.
I was out of control
The singer's behavior during the fight was excessive and irrational.
But I still love my man
Despite the fight and its consequences, the singer still has deep affection for her partner.
With my body and soul
The artist loves her partner with all of her being and is deeply committed to him.
When the road gets rough
During difficult times or situations.
You say things you should not say
People sometimes say hurtful or damaging things during conflicts that they regret later.
I never meant
The singer did not intend to act in the way that caused the fight.
To treat my baby that way
The artist is expressing remorse regarding how she acted during the argument with her partner.
I apologize
The singer is expressing regret for the actions that resulted in the fight with her partner.
Oh, believe me I do
The singer is sincere in her apology and hopes that her partner can trust her.
Honest and true
The singer's apology is heartfelt and genuine.
Because I know I was wrong
The artist acknowledges that she should not have behaved the way she did during the fight and is remorseful.
So I sing you this song
The artist is performing this song as a way of expressing her remorse and asking for her partner's forgiveness.
And I'm tryin' to get through
The singer is attempting to communicate how she feels to her partner and hopes that they can move beyond the fight together.
To make it up to you, yeah
The singer wants to take steps to repair the damage done to their relationship and make amends with her partner.
It was like a bad dream
The events of the fight between the artist and her partner felt surreal and nightmarish in nature.
Lord, you should have heard
The artist implies that her partner's reaction to the fight was very vocal and noticeable.
The way he shouted and the way that I screamed
Both the artist and her partner were emotionally charged during the fight and reacted by yelling and screaming.
I regret it cause I was unfair
The singer is sorry for how she treated her partner during the fight and believes that she acted unfairly toward him.
I took it all out on him
The artist lashed out at her partner and directed all of her frustrations onto him in a harmful way during the fight.
Just because he was there
The singer's partner was present, which made him the easy target for her to take out her frustrations on during the fight.
'Cause I was unkind
The singer acknowledges that she was not treating her partner with kindness during the fight.
And I wish that I could go back in time
The singer has feelings of regret and wishes that she could change her behavior or actions that led to the fight.
Erase our goodbyes
The artist wants to undo or forget any negative interactions that may have occurred between her and her partner during the fight or afterwards.
It's eating at my heart
The artist is experiencing emotional pain, guilt, or regret over the events of the fight and their impact on her relationship with her partner.
But come rain or come shine
Regardless of whatever difficulties they may face in their relationship, the singer is still committed to her partner.
I'm gonna do it right this time
The singer is expressing her commitment to making positive changes in her behavior and actions towards her partner.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Anita Baker, Barry Eastmond, Gordon Chambers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mamaziha79
"I apologize"
Operator
Get my baby on the line
Just the other night
We had a horrible fight
I admit that I
I was out of control
But I still love my man
With my body and soul
When the road gets rough
You say things you should not say
I never meant
To treat my baby that way
I apologize
Oh, believe me I do
I apologize
Honest and true
Because I know I was wrong
So I sing you this song
And I'm tryin' to get through
To make it up to you, yeah
Operator
It was like a bad dream
Lord, you should have heard
The way he shouted and the way that I screamed
I regret it cause I was unfair
I took it all out on him
Just because he was there
When the road gets rough
You say things you should not say
I never meant to treat my daddy that way
I apologize
Oh, believe me I do
I apologize
Honest and true
Because I know I was wrong
So I sing you this song
And I'm tryin' to get through
To make it up to you, yeah
I apologize
'Cause I was unkind
And I wish that I could go back in time
Erase our goodbyes
It's eating at my heart
But come rain or come shine
I'm gonna do it right this time
I apologize...
@Pr3ttyluhhErickaa
Who’s still listening to Anita baker 2024 ?
@ritadmadaleno2840
Me...
@essencemothershed2900
Mw❤
@malvernmudzingwa1529
Listening every year since release.
@malvernmudzingwa1529
You feel apologetic if you don't listen to it for a couple of months
@kemar4394
Me❤
@HarumiAida
CLASSY. ELEGANT. BEAUTIFUL. INTELLIGENT. Anita Baker is an example of black American excellence. CLASSIC BEAUTIFUL SONG.
@sekhemasaru5718
My wife was upset with me a couple of weeks ago because of a conversation that I wasn’t giving her my undivided attention and to add insult to injury I was picking a little bit when she was serious........when she picked up on my antics, “all hell broke loose”, and we we’re in the kitchen while she was washing dishes. She stopped washing dishes, yelled at me and threw the dish rag at me........”she took it all out on me because I was there”. I closed my mouth and took it because I love her........shortly after when the feeling was right, we both apologized to each other. Love and Life goes on 💞🔄
@Paula-nt2uc
🙏💯
@mothertwinkles4198
Aw, that's sweet. That what love does.